What is the best way to handle unknown vocabulary in a Reading passage?

• A. Immediately look up every new word in a dictionary.
• B. Skip the word without noting it.
• C. Use context clues in surrounding sentences to deduce meaning, and skip if necessary.
• D. Replace unknown words with synonyms you know.

Answer: (C)

Using context clues to deduce meaning keeps your reading flow intact while still grasping the main ideas of the passage. Often you can infer what an unknown word means from surrounding sentences, such as definitions given in appositives, examples, contrasts, or repeated roots and phrasing. If you can’t pin down the meaning quickly, it’s okay to skip the word and continue, then come back later if needed. This approach helps you understand the overall message without getting bogged down in every unfamiliar term.

Jumping to the dictionary for every new word slows you down and breaks your focus on the text. Skipping a word without noting it can leave you missing important nuance or affect comprehension of the sentence. Replacing unknown words with synonyms you know might change the actual meaning or tone of the sentence, leading to misinterpretation.